A few days ago, a resident of Fuente del Berro complained about the enormous amount of cobwebs that he was collecting, against his will, while walking to the supermarket. While playing soccer, in the Carabanchel neighborhood, he had another “unpleasant” spider encounter when he saw a kind of rain of cobwebs that were reflected by the lights of the playing field. We are talking about a phenomenon that both the affected person and a hundred people are denouncing through social networks.
On platforms like TikTok and . Many of those affected have even complained that Spiders suspended from these webs have even “attacked” people.
The situation has led to an online debate about the inexplicable proliferation of these arachnids in an urban environment. “Since when is Madrid Australia?” a young woman asks in a video that went viral. From the same record, the young woman points out that she finds cobwebs everywhere, even in her car.
The explanation of the phenomenon
Despite the concern of some citizens, the explanation behind this phenomenon is completely natural and is related to the time of year. The fall season coincides with the spider breeding period, a phenomenon that occurs every year, although this year it has attracted more attention due to its visibility.
The small spiders, upon birth, are transported through what is known as “spider flight”where they use light silk threads that allow them to be carried by the wind over considerable distances, in their search for new habitats.
The increased presence of cobwebs in the city may be disconcerting, but it is actually an indicator of the “health of urban ecosystems”. Some Internet users have highlighted that this increase reflects “better respect for the green areas of Madrid.”
Spider flight is a striking phenomenon. By positioning themselves against the wind, spiders produce silk and, by relaxing, allow their threads to be lifted. The higher the altitude from which they start their journey, the further they can travel. This behavior, although annoying for pedestrians, is essential for its spread and survival, even affecting the composition of the arachnid population of a region.
“It does not represent a cause for alarm”
The debate has also pointed to whether this phenomenon can have negative consequences for public health or security. Experts assure that the expansion of spiders in Madrid “does not represent a cause for alarm”. In fact, living with arachnids such as spiders can be beneficial since they help control other insect populations that may affect us.
#Madrid #Australia #plague #spiders #invades #city #cobwebs #attack #street
